European shippers, forwarders, terminal operators and port authorities are calling on member states to coordinate on how to implement the UN's demand that no container be loaded without a verified gross mass VGM from July 1.

The requirement comes in an amendment to a 1914 treaty about lifeboats after the sinking of Titanic called the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention, and it takes effect July 1, reports American Shipper.

The European Shippers Council, Federation of European Private Port Operators, European Sea Ports Organisation, and European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistics and Customs Services said uniformity is needed to preserve a level playing field.

In a letter, they demanded national authorities to take urgent, coordinated action, warning "the absence of such action will lead to competition distortion and significant interruption to the functioning of the logistics chain.

They urged countries around Europe must adopt similar standards on certification of weighing equipment "which are not overly restrictive and do not have an adverse impact on the functioning of the logistics chain".

Also the groups said it was "important that national authorities communicate the accepted tolerance level for weighing equipment used to issue, and where necessary verify a declared VGM (for example; five per cent or an acceptable variation from the declared VGM) in advance" of the July 1 implementation.

Source: shippingazette.com